CANADA STOCKS-TSX may open higher on jobs data, RBC

Reuters Staff

3 Min Read

TORONTO, Dec 4 (Reuters) - Canada’s main stock market could open higher on Friday as a strong domestic employment report and more positive bank results bring a brighter tone to the market ahead of key U.S. data expected before the start of the session.

But weak commodity prices could temper any gains as falling gold and energy prices weigh on the resource-heavy market.

Toronto’s main stock index fell on Thursday, snapping a two-session advance, as a decline in commodity prices erased an earlier rally that had lifted the resource-heavy index to its highest level in more than 14 months.[ID:nN0392474]

Here is some of the news that could affect the market:

CANADA JOBS DATA

Canada’s economy added far more jobs than expected in November, more than erasing the losses in October and suggesting a recovery is in the making.[ID:nN04141170]

U.S. CRUDE LOWER

Oil prices fell for a third consecutive day on Friday, to below $76 a barrel, under pressure from high levels of inventories and nervousness ahead of the latest employment data from the world’s top energy consumer, the United States. [nSP472653]

GOLD LOWER

Gold eased back toward $1,200 an ounce in Europe on Friday as a slight recovery in the dollar prompted traders to cash in gains after the previous day’s run-up to record highs. [ID:nGEE5B30P4]

ROYAL BANK OF CANADA

Royal Bank of Canada RY.TO said on Friday that quarterly profit rose 10 percent as strong wealth management and domestic banking offset losses in the lender’s big U.S. operations. [nN04143770]

CANADA DOLLAR

The Canadian dollar extended gains on Friday after government figures showed that the economy created far more jobs than expected last month and the unemployment rate surprisingly fell. [nGEE5B30Q1]

CI FINANCIAL

CI Financial Corp CIX.TO said on Thursday it has agreed in principle with senior management of the capital markets operations of Blackmont Capital Inc to sell that business to a group of employees. [nN03123655]

RESEARCH ROUNDUP

Following is a summary of research actions on Canadian companies reported by Reuters on Friday [RCH/CA]